Mid Sunset Neighborhood Association challenges DTSC oversight on PCE contamination cleanup

The San Francisco City Council meeting on July 4, 2025, highlighted significant concerns regarding environmental oversight and community safety in the Mid Sunset neighborhood. A key point of discussion was the need for amendments to the Site Management Plan (SMP) to ensure proper demolition oversight and to address data gaps related to contamination from former dry cleaning operations.

Residents and representatives from the Mid Sunset Neighborhood Association (MSNA) expressed frustration over the Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC), claiming it has failed to adequately protect public health during the cleanup process. They pointed to past mistakes made by the DTSC, including insufficient investigations into the contamination sources, particularly from Miracle Cleaners and Albright Cleaners. The community is demanding more rigorous oversight and transparency in the cleanup efforts, emphasizing that the current SMP does not reflect the necessary precautions or data.

The meeting also touched on ongoing legal disputes involving the TNDC (Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation) and the MSNA, with discussions about a previous court case that sought to compel TNDC to negotiate with residents over building height and scale. The MSNA's legal counsel clarified that the environmental issues were not the primary focus of the initial lawsuit, which was based on a resolution urging TNDC to engage with the community. However, as new contamination data emerged, residents questioned why a separate lawsuit was not filed to address these environmental concerns.

Commissioners raised questions about the timeline of events, including when the DTSC reports became available and how they were incorporated into the planning process. The MSNA representatives argued that the DTSC's oversight has been inadequate, and they are advocating for more stringent measures to ensure that the demolition and cleanup processes do not pose further risks to public health.

As the meeting concluded, the council acknowledged the importance of addressing these environmental issues and the need for a collaborative approach between the city, the DTSC, and the community. The discussions underscored the ongoing challenges faced by residents in ensuring their safety and well-being amid development and environmental remediation efforts in their neighborhood.